Best Travel Fund

The Overseas Travel Fund was renamed the Bill and Margaret Best Travel Fund in 1990 in memory of former Assembly Executive Secretary Rev. W.A. Best and his wife Margaret. The purpose of the Fund is to assist church workers to further develop their area of service to the Church. The Personnel Work Group administers the Fund.

Eligibility

Church workers must have been employed in an equivalent full-time role that is recognised by the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand for at least five of the previous 10 years. The term ‘church worker’ includes ministers, lay ministry and staff, and elders. Training and study courses should meet the minimum duration as set out in the table below:

Location of course/conference

Minimum duration

Within New Zealand

Seven (7) days

Australia/Pacific region

Seven (7) days

North America/Asia

Fourteen (14) days

Europe

Twenty-one (21) days

Applicants must complete their course and return to New Zealand within 12 months of the course beginning. Grants are for travel costs only. For assistance with course fees and/or materials, please contact presbytery/UDC council. Where the course is in North America, Asia or Europe, the applicant needs to demonstrate that the equivalent course is not available in New Zealand or the Pacific region.

Applications

Applications close 30 April and 31 October each year. Applicants are notified of the outcome of their application by early June and December. Applicants are encouraged to apply for their grant prior to travel. However, applications for travel undertaken in the past 12 months will be considered. All application must include a letter of approval from the presbytery/UDC. Applicants wanting to attend a conference as an official representative of the Presbyterian Church should provide the names of at least two referees.